Condenser



Feb. 25, 1936. R s c s Y 2,031,910

CONDENSER Filed April 12, 1935 ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 25, .1936

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONDENSER Royal F. Sickles, Springfield, Mass. Application April 12, 1935, Serial No. 16.027

and the like although it is not necessarily limited to such use.

According to one special feature of the invention, the condenser is characterized by its simplicity of form and efficiency in operation while at the same time it is economical to manufacture.

According to another special feature of the invention the condenser is constructed and arranged for variation whereby its capacity is variable. That is to say, the capacity of my new condenser may be varied at will to vary the characteristics of the circuit in which it is connected and in order to obviate losses and the like the condenser is constructed in a novel manner.

One characteristic of the condenser is that it is compact so as to occupy but small space which is desirable in connection with radio apparatus. This is accomplished by a novel construction wherein a maximum of plate area is provided by obviating the common expedient of rivets and the locking of the plates in a novel manner eliminates the necessity for extraneous parts which tend to make the condenser bulky and expensive.

Many and various novel features and advantages of the invention not necessarily enumerated above will be hereinafter observed in the accompanying description of the preferred form thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a condenser embodying the novel features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the condenser shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the condenser shown in Fig. 1; v,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the condenser plates;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the members for separating the plates of the condenser;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another of the condenser plates of the condenser shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. '1 is a similar view of a third plate of the condenser shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a condenser of the type shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 but certain detail changes; a

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the plates of the condenser shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of one of the members for separating the plates of the condenser shown in Fig. 8; I

Figs. 11 and 12 are perspective views of other condenser plates of the condenser shown in Fi 8:

Fig. 13 is an enlarged perspective view showing a terminal of one of the plates of the condenser: and Fig. 14 is a sectional elevational view through the condenser shown in Fig. 1 to explain certain features of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail the invention will be fully described.

Thecondenser includesa body 2 which is preferably made from suitable insulating material such as ceramic or the like. The body has associated with it as will hereinafter appear a plurality of metallic condenser plates arranged in superposed relation with separating members therebetween which are non-metallic.

A central post 4 extends upwardly from the body and this as well as the body may be pro- ,vided with openings such as 6 so that the condenser may be secured to a radio apparatus or the like. End projections or lugs 8 and III also extend upwardly from the body 2. Openings or slots such as H and H extend through the body at either side of which parts such as [2 and I2 are provided, all as shown.

In the form of the condenser shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there are a pair of separate condensers associated with the body. These are independently operable and the component parts of one only of them will be described. It will .be understood that the body may carry any 7 has a terminal part 20 which extends through the slot ll of the body 2. An opening 22 in the central part thereof loosely receives .the body of an adjusting screw 24 and a recess in the lower end of the plate is provided to form ears 28 which span opposite sides of the lug such as 8 of the body member.

0n top'of the plate l8 there is a separating member or plate such as 30 which is preferably non-metallic. This has a central opening 32 for loosely receiving the body of screw-24 and its oppositeends are slotted as at 32 to provide ears 34 which are disposed at the sides of the projections 8 and Ill.- The plate 30 may be made of some such material as mica or the like.

An intermediate plate 40 is provided which overlies the insulating plate 30 just referred to and this plate 40 has a tail-piece or terminal part 45 for extending through the slot I4. An opening 44 is provided in the central part of the plate 40 for loosely receiving the screw 24 and one end portion of the plate is cut away at 42 as shown to provide ears 46 which are disposed at eitherside of a projection such as I0.

Over this plate 40 there is another separating member such as 30. A condenser plate 60 on the last-named separating member and uppermost in the condenser has a tail-piece or terminal portion 62 for. extending through an opening such as I4 and a central opening 04 is provided to loosely receive the body of the screw 24. The end of the plate is provided with a recess to form ears 06 which are disposed at opposite sides 'of projection 8 and the said plate is preferably non-flat and more or less spring-like.

The terminals of the plates in Figs. 4, 6 and 7 are shown as being flat but to explain an important feature of the invention reference is made to the enlarged view of Fig. 13 wherein it will be seen the terminals are offset or have portions in spaced planes for a purpose to bedescribed.

With the plates I0, 40 and 60 and the separat ing plates 30 in the superposed relationdescribed the terminalsof the plates extendthrough the slots of the body member while the ears on the various plates are disposed at opposite'sides of the lugs of the body. The uppermost plate is preferably non-flat, and otherstherebelow may be non-flat if desired, so that as the screw 24 is rotated in one direction or the other pressure is exerted on the uppermost plate which causes the ofiset portions of the terminals of the plates to abut opposite sides of the slots in which they are disposed. Washers I0 and I2 are disposed on the plate 60 against which the head of screw 24 bears. The washer I2 is preferably of insulating material while washer I0 may be of noninsulating material.

As the oflset portions of the terminals abut the sides of the slots the plates are thereby held or locked against shifting and the ears disposed at opposite sides of the lugs co-operate therewith to hold and lock the plates against longitudinal and transverse relative shifting movement yet allowing the necessary up and down movements to effect the desired variation in capacity.

In this way the alternate plates and separating members are held securely in condenser forming relation which may be adjusted to a fine degree while the adjustment is not disturbed by vibrations and the like to which condensers of this type are subjected.

In the manner described the turning of the screw varies the capacity 0f ,the condenser :and when used in circuits of various kinds wires may be connected to the terminal portions of the various plates projecting through the base member. As a special feature it will be noted that the .terminal portions of the plates of one condenser The form of the invention shown in Figs. 8 to 12 will now be described in detail.

, suitable material has recesses 90 on its opposite ends which are adapted to receive the portions 92 and 94 of plate 90 whereby the said member plate is guided and held in its desired position relative to the plate 90 and the other plates con stituting the condenser. j

This member 96 lies just beneath the uppermost plate 90 and below the same there is an intermediate condenser plate such as I00 shown in Fig. 11. This plate I00 has a terminal I04 which extends through the slot 86 and a guide portion I04 which extends through the slot 00. Opposite ends of plate I00are recesses as at I so that the end edges of the plate I00 are spaced from the parts 92 and 94 of the plate 90. Below this plate I00 there is a second separating-member such as 90.

Lowermost and below the last-mentioned separating member there is a condenser plate I00 which has an upper terminal I00 and a lower ter-' minal III] the former of which extends through able .openings in the plates 90, 96, I 00 and I06,

and its lower end is in threaded engagement with a nut at the lower side of the base plate after the manner shown in Fig. 3. A washer II4, similar to 10 and I2 already described, underlies the head of said screw.

The terminals 92, I04 and I08 of the plates 90, I 00 and I 06 which extend through the base 80 may be connected to a circuit and as in connection with the form of the invention previously described. Screw H2 is rotated in one direction or the other to vary the capacity of the condenser of which they are a part. The plates forming the condenser are guided by the means described whereby it is possible to obtain very fine capacitative adjustments all of which is desired in condensers of this type, which are commonly used in association with delicate radio apparatus where the utmost accuracy in the characteristics of circuits is desired and necessary.

It is necessary to mention that the terminals 92, I04 and I08 of plates 90, I00 and I00 are offset similarly to the illustration in Figs. 13 and 14 for the-functions already described.

While I have described the invention in great detail and with respect to a preferred form thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereto since many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A condenser of the class described comprising in combination, a base having spaced open- 70 ings extending therethrough, alternate superposed condenser and separator plates on said base, the uppermost plate being curved and adapted to be depressed, terminals extending from said condenser plates through said openings and being offset to-have portions in diilerent planes engageable with opposite sides of said openings to hold said plates against shifting longitudinally and permitting up and down move ments, the said plates being provided with op m ings therethrough, a washer on the uppermost plate and provided with an opening therethrough, and a screw extending through said openings threadedly engaging said base having its head bearing on said washer for depressing the uppermost plate.

2. A condenser 01' the class described comprising in combination, a base having spaced openings therethrough, alternate superposed condenser and separator plates between said openings, the uppermost plate being curved and springlike and adapted to be depressed, terminals on said condenser plates extending through the openings, which are offset to have portions in diflerent planes within the openings bearing on opposite sides of the openings to prevent said plates from shifting longitudinally and permitting said plates to move towards and away from the base, the said plates being provided with openings therethrough, a washer on the uppermost plate provided with an opening therethrough, and a screw having its head bearing on the said washer and passing through the openings therein and threadedly engaging the base.

3. A condenser of the class described comprising in combination, a base having spaced lugs extending upwardly from a face thereof and progaging said base with its head bearing on said washer, terminals extending through the openings of the base connected to the condenser plates and ears provided on the separator plates at their ends disposed at opposite sides of the lugs.

4. A condenser 01' the class described comprising in combination, a base having spaced lugs extending upwardly from a face thereof and provided with openings therethrough extending through the base at adjacent sides of the lugs, alternate superposed condenser and separator plates on said base between said lugs, the uppermost plate being curved and spring-like so as to be depressible, said plates provided with openings therethrough, a washer-on the uppermost plate provided with an opening therethrough, a screw extending through said openings threadedly engaging said base with its head bearing on said washer, terminals extending through the openings of the base connected to the condenser plates, and ears provided on the separator plates at their ends disposed at opposite sides of the lugs, the said terminals being offset to have parts in different planes in said openings bearing on opposite sides of said openings.

5. A condenser of the class described comprising in combination, a base, lugs in spaced relation extending upwardly from a face of the base and the base provided with openings therethrough at adjacent sides of said lugs, alternate superposed condenser and separator plates between the lugs on said base, the uppermost plate being curved from end to end, the said plates being provided with openings, a washer on the uppermost plate provided with an opening therethrough, a screw having its head bearing on the said washer and extending through said openings threadedly engaging said base, the separator plates being provided with slots on opposite ends forming spaced ears disposed at opposite sides of said lugs, and

terminals connected to said condenser plates extending through the openings in the base having oflset portions in said openings engaging opposite sides thereof.

ROYAL F. SICKLES. 

